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III: SORRY TO BOTHER YOU
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Several days quickly passed. The East Blue was still very blue and vast, and the ocean looked more inviting than ever to Emerald. Zoro had made it his mission to keep a close eye on her―while Luffy held onto her like an octopus in heat―rendering Emerald marooned. She could already feel the effects of dry scales coming on. Small bits of scales would start to involuntarily grow across her skin, and the nasty itching would follow. After that came the scales slowly falling off and turning into nasty, bloody scabs. Emerald internally shuddered. It's only happened to her once because of a personal mission she had undergone―but never again! Of course, she finished the job, but it nearly cost her.
An annoying burn came from her mid-thigh, and it took everything in Emerald not to scratch it. Instead, she turned her attention back to the black sheet she and Luffy were decorating. Well, more like he was decorating, and she was encouraging. He had talked her ear off that whole afternoon about if they were to be a proper crew, they would need a name and a flag.
"It's perfect!" said Luffy, in absolute awe of his own creation.
Emerald gazed upon the ugly thing. "If you say so, gorgeous." That thrillingly goofy grin spread across Luffy's face as he gathered their new flag in his hands.
"Nami!" he called. "Hey, Nami!"
Nami sat near the bow of the ship, reviewing the map of the Grand Line once again through her dorky glasses. The navigator didn't glance up, as she said, "What?"
Luffy and Emerald held up the sheet together. "It's ready!" announced Luffy.
"And what is it?" asked Nami, completely unimpressed at what she was seeing.
The two lowered the sheet.
"A flag, duh!" Emerald rolled her eyes.
"It's our Jolly Roger," explained Luffy. "Every pirate crew must have one. And now we do!" Their new 'Jolly Roger' was basically Luffy. A poorly drawn pirate skull with a straw hat that had the same coloring as his.
"Isn't it lovely?" cooed Emerald.
"We're not a crew, and you two are not hanging that on my boat," said Nami, flatly.
The cabin door swung open and Luffy quickly turned to Zoro who emerged from the doorway. "Zoro! Zoro, check it out."
Emerald couldn't help but smile at Luffy. Albeit he was slightly annoying at times, she couldn't help but admire his passion and optimism. For a small second, Emerald's hand twitched, and the spot on her thigh burned again beneath her shorts.
Zoro gives Emerald a bored look before gazing upon Luffy's masterpiece. He stares for a moment before saying, "That's unique." In other words, he thinks it sucks but is too nice to hurt Luffy's feelings. It's not like Luffy would care to begin with. He was the captain, and if he says that ugly flag was to be their Jolly Roger, then so be it.
